Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. => Topic started by: Leed3 on August 25, 2008, 11:09:02 PM
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Hi,
A new version (2.0) has been posted and includes a number of fixes and improvements. Note the message on the Mach Plugin page next to my plugin about XINPUT1_3.DLL.
The new version includes such things as:
1. Control up to 4 axes at the same time.
2. Incremental jog for 2 axes.
3. Jog variable speed override using the triggers.
4. Additional programmable functions for the buttons.
5. Low battery warning for wireless controllers.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Lee
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Thanks Lee, That is great. :)
Brett
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HI All,
Just a dumb question.
Is it possible to change the x / y direction on the joy stick such that it will move the axis opposite to how the machine is configured?
RICH
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Hi,
No, it is not possible in the current version to change the direction of the X/Y to be opposite of how the machine is configured. Why would you want to do that? It is something I could add if necessary.
Lee
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Lee, I'm guessing Rich would want to adjust it because the table moves opposite of the sticks. This is for good reason. Depending on the machine but say a gantry router where the spindle moves Vs a knee mill where the table moves. Following the right hand rule, to get to say the bottom left corner of the work area. The mechanical motion will look exactly opposite. If you were standing in front of both the gantry would come toward you and to the left to put the spindle over the bottom left corner. The mill table would move to the right and away from you to put the spindle over the bottom left corner. I opted to leave my gamepad set to follow the right hand rule (but it does get very confusing. It is easy to think of +s and -s when typing the numbers in but it's much harder to think of when driveing with a gamepad. When jogging with sticks, you're very seldom thinking of +s and -s. Your just watching the tool and where you want it to go. It is a hand eye thing.
Correct me if I'm wrong RICH,
Brett
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Brett,
You are exactly right.
Dan put one on his machine and it's realy neat. But like you said, you are not thinking in terms of
the right hand rule. Additionaly, if you use a video camera the image is reversed and it dosn't feel
natural to your senses. So there's more than just the stated reason and think it would a worthwhile
option to have available. ( better than taking the stick apart and changing the wiring!)
RICH
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Hi,
Well, you have convinced me. I'll take a look at it. My first thought would be to add some check boxes to the configuration screen. They might say something like "Reverse Direction" and be right next to the corresponding pulldowns. Each pulldown and check box would be inside of a box like the Controller Type box. What do you think of that?
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Lee,
Supper!
RICH
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Lee,
Supper!
RICH
Great! When do we eat? ;D
Dave
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Good one Dave. ;D
That's great Lee. Thanks for your work on this.
Brett
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I'm experiencing a funny one while using the SS. When jogging with the keyboard, the axis will stop imediately.
When jogging using the zbox360 the axis won't stop unless i move the stick all the way to the other side and then the axis may reverse. Speed dosn't matter, even at a crawl. Seems like there is not much of a transitiion
between stick left or right.
Any experience around this or suggestions?
Is it a smoothstepper thing??
RICH
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Hi Rich and Chaoticone,
First of all, I have made the changes to the plugin that will allow reversing the direction. I would like a couple of volunteers to test it for a few days and let me know if there is any problem with it before I give it to Artsoft for posting. Please email me and I'll send you a copy.
Things that can cause your problem are:
1. using version 1 of the plugin. Make sure you are using the one on the MACH site
2. enabling the Shuttlepro at the same time as the XBox controller. Mach3 wants only 1 thing at a time to control it
3. setting the slow jog rate really low
4. using a defective controller or one other than the Microsoft XBox360 controller
Try going to Control Panel - Game Controllers - Properties - Settings Tab - Calibrate - select Display Raw data check box. The range of motion should be 0 to 65535. If your max number is less than this then it is the controller. Let me know
Thanks
Lee
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Hi Leed3
I would like to volunteer to try it out . By the way I am Dan , also is there a way to disable the time out on the xbox controller,that is does not shout off?
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Hi Dan,
I have placed a copy on the Yahoo Mach3 forum in the files section. Look in VS2005 - VS2008 / Lee's Files. You should see the zip file there.
I do not know of any way to disable the timeout. Sorry.
Lee
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Thanks Lee, I won't be able to test. I don't have a xbox controller and I'm pushed for time right now. Maybe I can later but hopefully some of the others will test this for you sooner than I can.
Brett
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Lee,
I will be testing and maybe more so than i wanted to. ;)
Sent you a PM.
As usual i seem to have a way to stick my finger somewhere and get it stuck! ;D
RICH
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Thanks RICH.
Brett
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Hi Lee,
I got the new zip file from the yahoo , with the revers direction blocks added works great I will fool with it some more and keep in touch.
Great job thanks
Dan
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Thanks Dan.
Brett
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Hi Lee,
Thanks for the info. The reversed axis mods seem to work great. Good going as
other users should find it helpfull.
I do have a few issues when using it along with the SmoothStepper but lets find out the
cause before posting anymore about it.
RICH
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Hi Lee,
Seems like all is well with using the XBOX360 along with the SmoothStepper. I still want to test somemore
but time is rather limited lately. What a pleasure to use along with the video and CopyCat plugin.
i must say thanks for sorting it out.
RICH
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A new version (2.1) of the XBox360 Controller plugin is now available on the Artsoft plugin page. It includes support for the Smooth Stepper and also allows reverse direction on any axis.
Hopefully, you will find it useful,
Lee
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I tried disabling Shuttlepro plugin, saved config, and closed Mach3. Reopened it and it is still enabled. I repeated the process reboot the machine, reopen Mach3 and it is still enabled. How do you disable Shuttlepro?
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Hi,
If you want to disable a plugin such as the shuttle Pro, the easiest way is to Exit Mach and then copy the ShuttlePro.dll that is in Mach3\Plugins to a safe place and then delete the original ShuttlePro.dll from the Mach3\Plugins folder. Then restart Mach. If the dll is not in the \Plugins folder then Mach will not use it.
If you need more help let me know.
Lee
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Thanks, that worked.
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Hi,
Using Mach 3.042.021, Smoothstepper Beta V0.015ogb and wired xbox360 on Windows Vista. PC is a Dell laptop but is functioning fine with Mach, no issues at all.
Took out the shuttlpro plugin and checked the range of the controller, 0-65535 and that is ok but I still get the defective plugin error.
It worked in one of the older versions of the plugin except I had problems of the axis not stopping when commanded and I assumed this was because of the SS.
Any ideas?
Regards, jeff.
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Hi Jeff,
You did not say this, but, let me guess that it worked fine on a different pc but is not working now on the laptop. If that is the case, I suspect that you need to download and install the Nov 2007 or later DirectX SDK (“directx_nov2007_redist.exe”) from Microsoft. Besides installing DirectX 9.0c it includes some header files for the XBox360 Controller. Vista should already be at 9.0c and may be at version 10. So, Vista will skip the installation of DirectX 9.0c and just add in the Controller headers. Unfortunately, I have not figured out a way to include the required files as part of the plugin installation. Try that and let me know.
Additional notes: The current version supports the SS and should stop when commanded. Let me know how yours is working after we solve the above problem. A new version of the plugin will be available soon. The only thing that it includes that is not in the current plugin is support for a certain type of Microsoft Wireless XBox360 controller.
Keep me posted
Lee
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Hi Lee,
Yes that was it!
I had foolishly assumed that as Vista is at DX10, the DX9.0c files would have been along for the ride. :)
I can confirm that unlike the previous version I was using, the commanded axis stops on the button now. This will be great in combination with my MPG. XBox360 doing the fast jogging and the finer setup with the MPG, best of both worlds.
Thanks very much for the help and for a fine piece of software.
Regards, Jeff.
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Hi Jeff,
Glad you got it fixed.
Lee
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HI Lee
I am French and I use your pugin for the xbox 360. Thank you for your work. All functions very well. I have only one question: After surroundings 0,25 hours without handling, the xbox is disconnected. The message appears well on the software of mach3. Only for connected the xbox I must close mach3 then to open it. Is this normal? There is it a means for connected the xbox without closing mach3.
Thank you still for your answer
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Hi Jejeadx,
I am away from my regular computer so I cannot test the controller now.
1. Is it a wireless controller? A wireless controller may very well go into the sleep mode to save batteries.
2. Try leaving the controller connected and not going into Mach for 25 min and see if the controller disconnects itself. If so it is a Windows thing.
3. Check and see how long you have the desktop settings screensaver set for. The screensaver time and/or the Windows sleep mode may be set fro approx 25 min.
I have used the controller for 2 - 3 hours at a time without and have not had any problems. But I use it a lot during those 2-3 hours so nothing every goes into the sleep mode.
Let me know how it goes.
Lee
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The wireless controller automatically shuts off after 10 minutes of inactivity. There is no fix I'm aware of. I don't have this problem with my hard wired controller.
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Thanks Atlas56.
I am still away from my computer. But, I thought that was the case.
Lee
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Hi Lee,
Found a problem on my machine when pressing the BACK button which defaults to Ref All Home. What happens is that the process starts like I pressed the button onscreen, the Z axis moves up, touches the limit switch and then backs off. Next, the Y should home but instead the X starts for home and the Z starts going back up at the same time, past the limits and into the hard stops.
This happens wired or wireless.
Doing a Ref Al Home from the screen button works as normal.
Mach 3.042.021, Smoothstepper Beta V0.015ogb, Xbox controller plugin V2.1
Also, the config says the triggers speed up and slow down the jogging speed but don't seem to have any effect on my system. My jogging speed is approx 50% of jogging with the keyboard or MPG. How do I make the controller go at full speed?
Regards, Jeff.
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Hi Jeff,
I am still away from my computer and will be for another week. So I cannot test the Ref All Home until I get back. As soon as I test it and find out what is going on, I'll let you know.
Regarding, the trigger for jog override, it works fine for other folks. The way it works is that you press the thumbstick to move in a direction and, while it is moving, you press the trigger next to the thumbstick you are pressing. It does not work to press one thumbstick and the opposite trigger. You should see the feed rate increase.
In an effort to mach sure everything is working and that you have the feed rate override set properly, try pressing and holding the Shift key and then pressing the arrow key and see if the feed rate increases. If so Mach is working properly and your equipment is working properly. The slow jog rate can be set from 0 to 100. It does not have to be set to 50% to work. If the keyboard works and your joystick trigger does not then try looking at the joystick calibration works in the control panel. It is always possible that your triggers are bad.
With all of that being said, it is possible the problem is really with the interface to the smooth stepper. Ver 2.1 added support for it and I relied upon those having a smooth stepper to test it and get back to me. I don't have a smooth stepper so I cannot test it. So, please do the above steps and let me know what you find. If it is still a problem then I will contact the folks that were testing it for me and have them check for the same problem I also have a program that Greg at Warp9 sent me to test the interface. But, it will have to wait until I get back to my computer.
Let me know what you find.
Thanks
Lee
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Hi lee and thank Atlas56.
If the XBOX 360 wireless remains connected surroundings 15 minutes without touched, it is disconnected automatically and Mach 3 informs us with the message: "XBOX DESCONNECTED"
It is ok because that makes it possible to safeguard the batteries. What is a pity, when I restart the Xbox with the PC it s not connect with mach3. It is necessary to close mach3 then to reopen so that the lever functions. I suppose that there is no solution?
Thank you with all